QUEZON CITY – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has dismissed a petition seeking to halt the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, ruling that the judiciary has no authority to interfere in matters constitutionally assigned to the House of Representatives.
In a five-page resolution dated May 6, 2026, Presiding Judge Madonna Echiverri of Quezon City RTC Branch 81 denied the petition filed by lawyer Manases Carpio, the Vice President’s husband, along with his request for a writ of preliminary injunction.
The petition named Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, House Committee on Justice Chair Batangas Representative Gerville Reyes-Luistro, and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza as respondents.
“The petition for prohibition is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The prayer for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction is denied,” the court said in its ruling.
The court emphasized that impeachment is a constitutional function exclusively lodged with the House of Representatives under Article XI of the 1987 Constitution.
It noted that members of the House Committee on Justice are legally mandated to evaluate the sufficiency of impeachment complaints and determine probable cause before possible endorsement to the Senate.
Responding to arguments raised by Carpio, the court ruled that the issuance of subpoenas in the course of impeachment proceedings is part of the committee’s inherent authority.
“The issuance of the subpoena duces tecum ad testificandum is an inherent power of the Committee, which is validly created by law, to carry out this constitutional mandate effectively in the conduct of its hearing,” the resolution stated.
The court also rejected claims that the House lacked jurisdiction over Carpio or documents allegedly connected to him and Vice President Duterte, stressing that court injunctions cannot be used to stop Congress from performing its constitutional duties.
“To enjoin the public officials in the performance of their duty in the determination of the sufficiency of the impeachment complaint is to prevent said body from exercising its quasi-judicial or ministerial functions,” it added.
Carpio had asked the court to take judicial notice of media reports and online videos related to the House hearings, but this was also denied. The court ruled that such materials are considered hearsay and have no probative value in judicial proceedings.
The ruling further stated that the proper venue for challenging actions involving co-equal branches of government is the Supreme Court.
Carpio’s petition stemmed from the House justice committee’s handling of impeachment-related proceedings, including the alleged disclosure of bank transaction details during hearings on April 22. He cited possible violations of the Bank Secrecy Law, the Data Privacy Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Justice earlier voted unanimously to find probable cause to proceed with impeachment against Vice President Duterte based on two complaints filed this year.
The complaints accuse Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other alleged offenses, including the misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, and unexplained wealth accumulation.
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